Celtic 0
Dundee 0
League (Premiership)

Match Report

Dundee had to settle for a point after an excellent performance in a goalless draw at Celtic Park tonight. The Dark Blues played well in a first half that Celtic edged, but Dundee were the better side in the second half and could, maybe should, have taken all three points.

Both sides made extensive changes from their weekend games. Dundee brought in Kosta Gadzhalov, Cammy Kerr, Nicky Low and Craig Wighton, in the place of Darren O'Dea, Gary Harkins, Greg Stewart and Kane Hemmings. Celtic replaced Logan Bailly, Stefan Johansen, Gary Mackay-Steven, Kris Commons and Scott Allan with Craig Gordon, Charlie Mulgrew, Patrick Roberts, Tom Rogic and Stuart Armstrong.

Dundee didn't just change the players, they also reshaped the team, playing an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation in which the midfield was clearly expected to defend high up the pitch, pressing Celtic and stopping them building up moves easily from the back.

Apart from a dangerous early run by Roberts, Dundee coped well with Celtic's pressure in the first half. Celtic were mainly restricted to shots from distance. Leigh Griffiths drilled a fierce shot from 25 yards into Scott Bain's midriff. Griffiths then had a half chance from a lovely ball over the top by Robert, but his volley flew well wide.

The home supporters started to get restless as Celtic struggled to get going against a Dundee team who were pressing high up the field and breaking up most of the home attacks before they could start.

Bain had to stretch to turn Mulgrew's shot from 22 yards round the post. The Dee keeper then had to get down quickly to block Rogic's shot following a free kick. The most dangerous moment of the first half came when Bain raced from the penalty area and missed a long ball, but Julen Etxabeguren and Paul McGinn between them managed to recover and stop Griffiths rolling the ball into the goal.

Dundee offered little threat in attack in the first half. Nicky Low took a free kick from 22 yards that sailed over the bar, and Craig Wighton pulled his shot across goal after a great run through the Celtic defence.

The first half performance had been solid and hard-working first half performance but Dundee stepped up their game after the break. Cammy Kerr set the tone for the Dark Blues's second half, making a great tackle on substitute James Forrest and racing up the right exchanging passes with Wighton before his cross was cleared. The two Dundee youngsters had terrific games and thrived on the opportunity to play on a big stage.

Wighton's shot on the turn following a corner lacked the power to trouble Gordon. Kevin Holt then headed a Kerr cross over the bar, and a fierce Paul McGowan cross flashed across goal and past the far post as the Dee started to look increasingly dangerous.

Dundee stepped up the pressure on Celtic by sending on the key men who had been rested before the Scottish Cup quarter final. Kane Hemmings, Gary Harkins and Greg Stewart replaced Rory Loy, Nicky Low and Craig Wighton and Dundee went for the win.

Before the Dee's late charge Scott Bain had to make his best save of the game, touching Mulgrew's shot away from the top corner after Roberts had opened up Dundee's defence for the only time in the second half.

The Dark Blues missed the chance of the match when a beautifully delivered Stewart corner found Kosta Gadzhalov unmarked six yards out. The defender seemed to connect perfectly with his forehead, but with everyone in the ground expecting a goal, the ball flew wide.

Stewart and Harkins were now posing a serious threat to Celtic with their control and running. Stewart made a long run out of the Dundee half, but before he could reach the penalty area he was brought down by Sviatchenko, who was booked.

The last 15 minutes were mostly spent with the Dee pinning Celtic back while the home fans made their annoyance known and the small but proud Dark Blue support roared on the Dee.

In injury time a lengthy Dundee attack, passing the ball around Celtic's penalty area, ended with a clever ball from Hemmings which gave Harkins a half chance, but the Dee captain crashed the ball wide. That was the end of the action, and Dundee had to be happy with a point.

The press will doubtless concentrate on what they saw as a poor Celtic performance. However, Dundee set out with a game plan to press high up the park, make it hard for Celtic to play the game they wanted, and attack whenever they had the ball. The Dark Blues carried out the game plan perfectly, stopped Celtic playing and attacked with confidence, enthusiasm and no little skill.

The players can take great pride in a terrific team performance. A win would have been nice, but this draw was very satisfying. Dundee didn't park the bus at Parkhead tonight. They came to Glasgow, played good football, and no-one could have complained if they had taken all the points.

Match report written by James Christie - Official Dundee website